Report - 2025 02 05 A32663 D278055 Bill Report 5492 Sbr Bft Ta 25

Summary

A Senate Bill Report on SB 5492, an act relating to sustainable state tourism promotion, prepared by staff of the Senate Committee on Business, Financial Services & Trade and dated as of January 29, 2025. The sponsors listed include Senator Marcus Riccelli as prime sponsor. The background section describes the Washington Tourism Marketing Authority, created in 2018, and the Statewide Tourism Marketing Account, which may receive up to $3 million per biennium. The bill summary states that SB 5492 establishes a tourism self-supported assessment advisory group of industry sector representatives that must submit written recommendations to the Legislature by November 1, 2025. The report records no appropriation, an available fiscal note, and a summary of supporting public testimony.

Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used

Full text

                            SENATE BILL REPORT
                                  SB 5492

                                      As of January 29, 2025

Title: An act relating to sustainable state tourism promotion.

Brief Description: Concerning sustainable state tourism promotion.

Sponsors: Senators Riccelli, Chapman, Cleveland, Dozier, Goehner, Harris, Krishnadasan and
    Wilson, C..

Brief History:
     Committee Activity: Business, Financial Services & Trade: 1/29/25.


                                     Brief Summary of Bill
           • Establishes a tourism self-supported assessment advisory group,
             composed of representatives from various sectors of the Washington
             tourism industry.
           • Requires the advisory group to report recommendations to the
             Legislature by November 1, 2025.


SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, FINANCIAL SERVICES & TRADE

     Staff: Clint McCarthy (786-7319)

     Background: The Legislature created the Washington Tourism Marketing Authority
     (Authority) in 2018 as a public entity to manage financial resources and contract for
     statewide tourism marketing services. The Authority is governed by a board of directors,
     with assistance from a nonvoting advisory committee.

     Up to $3 million from revenue per biennium from a 0.2 percent of tax collected on retail
     sales of lodging, car rentals, and restaurants may be deposited into the Statewide Tourism
     Marketing Account (Account). Money in the Account can only be spent after appropriation.




     This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative
     members in their deliberations. This analysis is not part of the legislation nor does it
     constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Senate Bill Report                              -1-                                             SB 5492
     A match of one-to-one nonstate or state fund, other than general fund state, must be
     provided for all expenditures from the Account. The Account may be used for the operation
     of the Authority, the Statewide Tourism Marketing Program, and for certain allowable
     expenses.

     Allowable expenses include entering into a contract for a multiple-year statewide tourism
     marketing plan with an existing statewide nonprofit organization, which must include
     focuses on:
        • rural tourism-dependent counties;
        • natural wonders and outdoor recreation opportunities of the state;
        • attraction of international tourists;
        • identification of local offerings for tourists;
        • assistance for tourism areas adversely impacted by natural disasters;
        • contracting for the evaluation of the impact of the statewide tourism marketing
           program; and
        • administrative expenses of the Authority.

     Summary of Bill: Establishes a tourism self-supported assessment advisory group,
     composed of representatives from various sectors of the Washington tourism industry. The
     advisory group must include:
        • two members of the lodging sector;
        • one member of the beverage sector;
        • one member representing the arts and culture sector;
        • one member representing the tour operators sector;
        • one member representing the attractions sector;
        • one member representing the transportation sector; and
        • one member representing a statewide Washington tourism promotion nonprofit.

     The advisory group must submit written recommendations to the Legislature by November
     1, 2025, on key elements related to a self-supported assessment, including:
         • classification structure of businesses proposed to be included in the assessment;
         • assessment methodology, including a petition process for businesses to approve the
           assessment;
         • assessment rate for each business classification;
         • characteristics of businesses within each classification that would benefit from the
           assessment; and
         • creation of an oversight board for ratepayers of the assessment.

     Appropriation: None.

     Fiscal Note: Available.

     Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.



Senate Bill Report                           -2-                                       SB 5492
     Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

     Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This bill establishes a framework for key
     sectors to collaborate on an advisory group. This bill could help boost our local economies.
     This bill will support communities and small businesses. It is a model that has been
     implemented in other states and it works. This bill lays the foundation for long-term
     funding for the tourism industry in Washington State. There are community members from
     all over the state that support this bill. Additional industries are likely to be added through a
     friendly amendment. We have identified a public-private partnership to come together to
     find a sustainable funding solution for statewide promotion.

     This bill would help the hospitality industry. This is the next step towards having a robust
     funding mechanism that can drive tourism towards our state. Tourism is one of the life
     bloods of the wine industry in Washington. There are lots of competing options, and we
     want people to experience our wine industry. We exist in rural areas of the state, and this
     can really help the small businesses in the rural parts of our state. We need to be able to
     compete with other states. Small towns are bursting with small businesses, but it is difficult
     to promote these businesses to the rest of the world. This will also promote diversity and
     inclusion.

     Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Marcus Riccelli, Prime Sponsor; Rose Noble, Visit
     Spokane; David Blandford, State of Washington Tourism; Julia Gorton, Washington
     Hospitality Association; Josh McDonald, Washington Wine Institute; Gabriel Neuman,
     GSBA - Washington State LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce; Katie Kolan, State of WA
     Tourism.

     Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.




Senate Bill Report                              -3-                                           SB 5492


File and source

File

2025-02-05_a32663_d278055_bill-report-5492-sbr-bft-ta-25.pdf

Size

9,562 bytes

SHA-256

c191134e8c44692e9682fcfe8c9f62bde0ac15f2ad0a7765e451854833d7ef75

Our copy

2025-02-05_a32663_d278055_bill-report-5492-sbr-bft-ta-25.pdf

Original

app.leg.wa.gov